Sep 14, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalogue 
    
2024-2025 Catalogue

Natural Science


Natural Science is an interdisciplinary major combining mathematics with the physical and biological sciences. It is designed to offer maximum flexibility and scope for an individual’s interest within the sciences, while also providing opportunities to investigate other disciplines. Students planning to attend a graduate or professional school should include organic chemistry among their courses of study.

Elective requirements (6 required):


The student is also required to complete successfully six additional courses at the 200 - level or greater from the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology.

Three of the six courses must come from the Department of Biology, and two of thethose three must include a laboratory experience.  The remaining three required courses may be drawn from the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology.

Senior Capstone (required):


  • In addition to major course requirements, all students are required to fulfill a senior capstone experience as assigned by their major.

Research experience:


Since scientific research is an important aspect of an education in science, Natural Science majors are encouraged to replace one of the six required courses with one of the following:

  1. under the direction of a faculty member, participate in Directed Research (BI 421  - BI 422  or BI 423 );
  2. develop, with direction from the Internship Facilitator, an individual internship program (BI 451, 452, 453, 454  - BI 454 );
  3. participate in the Washington Internship Program (BI 450 ); or
  4. participate in Research and Seminar I and II (CH 420  - CH 421 ).

With permission of the chair, up to 2 upper-level major elective courses on topics other than those listed in the college catalog may be transferred in from study abroad or from domestic institutions.

Natural Science Course Sequence Outline


  Fall Spring
Freshman Year
  • BI 103 - General Biology I
  • CH 130 - General Chemistry
  • EN 105 - First Year Writing / Core
  • HU 103 - Conversatio I
  • BI 104 - General Biology II
  • CH 150 - Structure and Reactivity
  • HU 104 - Conversatio II
  • Core 
Sophomore Year
  • Science Elective
  • Core
  • Core
  • Elective
  • Science Elective
  • Core
  • Core
  • Elective
Junior Year
  • Biology Elective
  • PS 121 - General Physics I
  • Core
  • Core / Elective
  • Biology Elective
  • PS 122 - General Physics II
  • Core
  • Core / Elective
Senior Year
  • Biology Elective
  • Core
  • Core
  • Elective
  • Science Elective
  • Core
  • Core
  • Elective

 

Freshman Year


Sophomore Year


Fall


  • PS 121 - General Physics I or PS 131 Classical Physics I
  • Core
  • Language 1/Elective
  • Science Elective

Spring


  • PS 122 - General Physics I or PS 132 - Classical Physics II
  • Core
  • Language 2/Elective
  • Science Elective

Junior Year


Fall


  • Language 3/Elective
  • Core
  • Science elective
  • Science elective

Spring


  • Core
  • Core
  • Science elective
  • Science elective

Senior Year


Fall


  • Choice of research experience or major elective
  • Core
  • Core
  • Elective

Spring


  • Choice of research experience or major elective 
  • Core/Elective
  • Core/Elective
  • Elective

Note:


See Biological Sciences Overview  for additional information.